Led by former Ferrari team boss Jean Todt, the FIA will convene its new international tribunal next Thursday after charging Mercedes and Pirelli with allegedly breaching the rules with a recent private test at Barcelona.

“We have faith in the FIA,” Montezemolo is quoted as saying by the Ferrari website.

“Let’s hope formula one can maintain its professionalism and we have faith that those who attempt to circumvent the regulations are pursued and prosecuted, or rather more prosecuted than pursued,” he added.

It is known that Pirelli also approached Red Bull about a test, but team boss Christian Horner said no because of his reservations about the rules.

“Of course we said no,” Ferrari spokesman Renato Bisignani told Brazil’s O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, confirming that the Italian team also turned down an approach from Pirelli.

“The regulations prohibit the use of a car from this year,” he added, clarifying that Ferrari’s Pirelli tyre test just after Bahrain was with a 2011 car.

The general consensus among F1 circles is that Mercedes will be found guilty and penalised in some manner.

“I don’t know whether Mercedes will have points deducted or Ross Brawn will lose his job, but I do think there will be penalties because something was not quite right,” F1 team owner turned pundit Eddie Jordan said on Servus TV.